The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-03-26
HONOLULU RIFLES.
EXHIBITION DRILL AND BALL.

night. The preparations which AZ
fected the comfort and convenience
of the numerous invited guests, were
as carefully made as those which en-
abled the Rife company to exhibit
its proficiency in military movements,
to multitude of watchful eyes,
with unqualified credit to itself.
The sombre aspect of the inside of
the armory, as it appears ordinarily,
was converted into an agreeable
spectacle, by the tasteful arrange
ment of bunting and grecnery. Mr..
ID. p. Smith had Illuminated the
large hall by electricity, and made
the approaches almost as light as
day by the same agency. A large
awning had been erected on the CITY
side of the armory, and filled with
chairs for the use of spectators,
with an open view of the maneuvers.
The reception committee, consisting
of Lieutenants w. Unger and III. +.
Ilebbard, and Messrs. w. A. Kin
ney, l.. A. Thurston, II. c. Reid, II.
W. Morse, and Geo. p. Castle, were
assduous in their attention to the
guests, receiving them at the door
and conducting them to seats.
Invitations had been literally is
sued, and were freely accepted. BY
a few minutes after O'Clock, not
an empty seat could be found. La
dies and gentlemen, looking happy
and interested, filed the entire
space within the enclosure not re-
served for the military exercises. A
private box had been prepared for
the King, and was occupied by His
Majesty, accompanied by Lieuten-
ant-General Dominis, Prime Minis
ter Gibson, Acknowledgement Rosa,
and Governor Iaukea. Representa-
tives of foreign governments, the
the Captain and officers of the Rus
sian warship Vitiaz, and officers of
the various volunteer military COM
panies, in uniform, were among the
guests.
Shortly after o'clock, Drum
Sergeant w. King sounded the call
to "fall in" Twenty-four members
of the Honolulu Rifles, besides Off
GERS and file-closer, in full dress
uniform, with their white cross belts
and brass ornaments shining in the
electric light, appeared in line, I'M
der command of Captain V. V.
Ashford. Then came the formation
movements, including sizing, count
ing ang proving. Review movements,
including changes of direction at
company front, platoon front and
front of fours-changing formation
by successive wheels of fours and
wheels into line by tours
and platoons-and formation to re-
verse flank. Manual exercise by
word of command. Marching in
column of fours right and left in
front-diminishing and increasing,
front-the oblique, rear and flank
Notwithstanding in circle by
fours-and forming to reverse flank.
Advancing from flank-wheeling in
to line-fring eXercise-changing
front by wheel-about of fours, and
regaining line by inverse wheels.
Advancing in succession by tours
from both TANKS of both company
and platoons, and forming into
line at the double. Advancing
from line in column of platoons by
the right and left, and forming
company to the front. Breaking
front by right and left to rear and
doubling into line, advancing in sue
cession from both TANKS of both
wheeling in fours into
column of platoons-changing di-
rections, and forming line by both
reverse flank formation, and the
wheel of platoons. Advancing and
retiring in line, both by the rear
march and wheel-about of tours,
with the wheel of tours in circle
while in line. Taking ground to
TANKS and rear, to gain position for
maneuvers, by flank, oblique, and
rear marches, in line complete
broken line, and column of fours
and platoons right and left in front.
Formation from line to open file for
silent manuel, the silent manuel,
comprising some seventy-five dis
tinct orders. involving over 200
separate movements.
All this multifarious and compli-
Gated series of movements was eX-
ecuted with remarkable precision
and simultaneousness, the defects
being extremely few and very
slight. The silent manuel, per-
formed without word of command,
was like the movement of one man.
The entire drill was watched with
intense interest by the large COM
pany of spectators, who frequently
applauded. The Captain and his
command may well feel gratiiied
with the success of the entire drill.
At the conclusion of the maneu-
vers, magnificent new Hawaiian
flag, the handiwork and gift of the
lady relatives and friends of the
Rifles, was presented to the com
pany by the King. Captain Ash
ford and the guards of colors adj
vanced to near where His Majesty
was seated, who arose and delivered
the following presentation speech
along with the ilag:---
! Cnntoi Ashford Ofiicars md